Consistent effects of the Loop Current and associated mesoscale eddies on the vertical distributions of deep-pelagic fishes in a subtropical ocean basin.
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| Title: | Consistent effects of the Loop Current and associated mesoscale eddies on the vertical distributions of deep-pelagic fishes in a subtropical ocean basin. |
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| Authors: | Milligan, Rosanna J.1 (AUTHOR) R.Milligan@nova.edu, Sutton, Tracey T.1 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Progress in Oceanography. Apr2026, Vol. 244, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p. |
| Subjects: | Loop Current, Pelagic fishes, Species distribution, Bathyal zone, Mesoscale eddies, Ocean currents |
| Geographic Terms: | Gulf of Mexico |
| Abstract: | [Display omitted] • Mesoscale eddies are important sources of environmental heterogeneity for oceanic fauna in the vertical and horizontal axes. • We studied the effects of Loop Current waters (LCOW) on meso- and bathypelagic fish behavior and distribution. • LCOW altered the species composition and diversity of fishes at mesopelagic depths in a semi-enclosed oceanic basin. • LCOW altered the vertical distribution patterns of most common meso- and bathypelagic fishes. • Results highlight individual behavior as driver of deep-pelagic fish assemblage structure. Mesoscale eddies are important sources of environmental heterogeneity for oceanic fauna, with ecological effects from primary producers to top predators. In the Gulf of Mexico basin (the Gulf), Loop Current Origin Water (LCOW) brings warm, low-productivity waters into the Gulf from the Caribbean and can give rise to associated eddies. Here, we present an analysis of the effects of LCOW on deep-living myctophid and stomiiform fishes in the Gulf from 0 – 1500 m, and show effects of LCOW on the community structure, vertical distributions, and migration rates throughout this depth range. Where LCOW had an effect, it was associated with fauna moving to deeper daytime depths, and/or inhibition of diel vertical migration into the epipelagial at night. These effects were clearest in upper mesopelagic depths at night, which is where the greatest differences in assemblage composition and species diversity were observed. Some influence of water mass was still detected into bathypelagic depths, with the abundant bathypelagic species Cyclothone obscura moving deeper under LCOW to 1500 m, suggesting a deeper-reaching effect of LCOW than has previously been recognized. Overall, our results suggest that a driver of meso- and bathypelagic fish distribution is individual responses to changing local conditions on the fine scale that then governs assemblage structure on the mesoscale. Our study highlights the importance for future studies to consider taxon-specific and individualistic (e.g., trait-based) approaches to understanding the drivers of assemblage structure of deep-living pelagic fishes and their predictability in the face of future environmental change, as well as their long-term stability and continued ability to produce ecosystem services as key intermediate trophic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Progress in Oceanography is the property of Pergamon Press - An Imprint of Elsevier Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 192842238 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Consistent effects of the Loop Current and associated mesoscale eddies on the vertical distributions of deep-pelagic fishes in a subtropical ocean basin. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Milligan%2C+Rosanna+J%2E%22">Milligan, Rosanna J.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> R.Milligan@nova.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sutton%2C+Tracey+T%2E%22">Sutton, Tracey T.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Progress+in+Oceanography%22">Progress in Oceanography</searchLink>. Apr2026, Vol. 244, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Loop+Current%22">Loop Current</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pelagic+fishes%22">Pelagic fishes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Species+distribution%22">Species distribution</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Bathyal+zone%22">Bathyal zone</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mesoscale+eddies%22">Mesoscale eddies</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ocean+currents%22">Ocean currents</searchLink> – Name: SubjectGeographic Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gulf+of+Mexico%22">Gulf of Mexico</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: [Display omitted] • Mesoscale eddies are important sources of environmental heterogeneity for oceanic fauna in the vertical and horizontal axes. • We studied the effects of Loop Current waters (LCOW) on meso- and bathypelagic fish behavior and distribution. • LCOW altered the species composition and diversity of fishes at mesopelagic depths in a semi-enclosed oceanic basin. • LCOW altered the vertical distribution patterns of most common meso- and bathypelagic fishes. • Results highlight individual behavior as driver of deep-pelagic fish assemblage structure. Mesoscale eddies are important sources of environmental heterogeneity for oceanic fauna, with ecological effects from primary producers to top predators. In the Gulf of Mexico basin (the Gulf), Loop Current Origin Water (LCOW) brings warm, low-productivity waters into the Gulf from the Caribbean and can give rise to associated eddies. Here, we present an analysis of the effects of LCOW on deep-living myctophid and stomiiform fishes in the Gulf from 0 – 1500 m, and show effects of LCOW on the community structure, vertical distributions, and migration rates throughout this depth range. Where LCOW had an effect, it was associated with fauna moving to deeper daytime depths, and/or inhibition of diel vertical migration into the epipelagial at night. These effects were clearest in upper mesopelagic depths at night, which is where the greatest differences in assemblage composition and species diversity were observed. Some influence of water mass was still detected into bathypelagic depths, with the abundant bathypelagic species Cyclothone obscura moving deeper under LCOW to 1500 m, suggesting a deeper-reaching effect of LCOW than has previously been recognized. Overall, our results suggest that a driver of meso- and bathypelagic fish distribution is individual responses to changing local conditions on the fine scale that then governs assemblage structure on the mesoscale. Our study highlights the importance for future studies to consider taxon-specific and individualistic (e.g., trait-based) approaches to understanding the drivers of assemblage structure of deep-living pelagic fishes and their predictability in the face of future environmental change, as well as their long-term stability and continued ability to produce ecosystem services as key intermediate trophic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Progress in Oceanography is the property of Pergamon Press - An Imprint of Elsevier Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1016/j.pocean.2026.103710 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 1 StartPage: N.PAG Subjects: – SubjectFull: Loop Current Type: general – SubjectFull: Pelagic fishes Type: general – SubjectFull: Species distribution Type: general – SubjectFull: Bathyal zone Type: general – SubjectFull: Mesoscale eddies Type: general – SubjectFull: Ocean currents Type: general – SubjectFull: Gulf of Mexico Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Consistent effects of the Loop Current and associated mesoscale eddies on the vertical distributions of deep-pelagic fishes in a subtropical ocean basin. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Milligan, Rosanna J. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Sutton, Tracey T. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 04 Text: Apr2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 00796611 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 244 Titles: – TitleFull: Progress in Oceanography Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
